Cream of the Crop This is a monthly column introducing professionals who represent the best in their respective industries Engineering his own career moves By Emma Jones The most challenging opportunities usually require a move beyond your comfort zone With more opportunities opening up on the mainland for talented Hong Kong professionals, many people are now contemplating a cross-border move as a way of gaining broader experience and advancing their careers. The transition from a familiar environment to one that is completely new can be daunting, but as Patrick Lau found out, the rewards can also be great. When offered the chance to head up the new Towngas venture at Jinan in Shandong province just over a year ago, Mr Lau was initially uncertain about moving. With over twenty years' experience with the company in Hong Kong, he had a strong network of business relationships and there were also family considerations to think of. What he did recognise, however, was the huge potential of the China gas market, and with Towngas planning major expansion, he thought it best to keep in step with the company. To make the decision easier, he had been offered a short-term posting, with the option of returning to a role as manager in Hong Kong if things didn't work out. "I knew I had to jump outside my comfort zone and open myself up to new opportunities," he recalls. Quality time: Mr Lau's favourite pastime is to spend time with his family during vacations Obviously, Mr Lau wasn't selected by chance. He had been one of the company's first graduate trainees back in 1982 and had climbed steadily through the ranks. After a spell as assistant engineer in the customer service department, he went on to work in the commercial and industrial division and was promoted to managerial grade. Along the way, he achieved his main goal of becoming a registered professional engineer and also accumulated a wealth of experience which combined both technical and management skills. Something new Despite all this, Mr Lau cites his move to China as one of his most rewarding career accomplishments to date. The current job entails running one of the 33 Towngas joint ventures on the mainland and managing a team of 900 staff. His regular duties include client meetings, networking with local government officials, general management issues, site visits and strategic developments. One of the greatest challenges has been learning to operate in a new business environment. "Although I consider myself Chinese, the cultural differences I encountered were significant and the working styles in China are far removed from the mature systems in place in Hong Kong," he explains. After settling in, he realised that the best way to lead a successful business team was to encourage open communication between staff and managers. "I couldn't assume that I could command respect just because of my position within the company and my background in Hong Kong. It had to be earned," he adds. Team spirit: Cultural differences are overcome by close cooperation and mutual understanding Good communicator Personable and upbeat, Mr Lau has the polished communication skills to develop a natural rapport and these were, no doubt, vital. In this respect, he admits to following the example of one of his business mentors, Alfred Chan, the current Towngas managing director, who has passed on many valuable lessons. Some of the best advice involved business relationships, knowing that people power is crucial and that developing an approachable personality is the key. As Mr Lau explains, "I noticed that the results from interaction with staff and clients always had more impact than paperwork." To make this possible, he strongly emphasises the importance of language skills. After visiting China several times as a student, he developed an interest in Putonghua and started to learn it in his spare time. With his move to Jinan, these skills had to be revived and Mr Lau realised that using a textbook simply wouldn't work. "It's all about immersing yourself in the culture," he says, pointing out that it is one thing to have the ability to converse without mistakes, but quite another to understand how people communicate colloquially and in local dialects. Mission accomplished: Mr Lau is proud to be leader of the first Jinan project which was a great opportunity to test his abilities With the gas industry in China developing rapidly, and increasing competition between energy suppliers expected, the overall prospects for engineers look bright. "My mindset has changed during my time at Towngas," notes Mr Lau. In particular, he has noticed a huge shift in attitude towards focusing on customers. "If you want to do this job you need to be more than just technically minded." He advises those who what to follow in his footsteps that there are excellent opportunities, but that it is important to stay focused and take advantage of them as they arise. "What may initially appear insignificant can open up a whole new world of future possibilities," he says. Milestones 2004 Nominated director and general manager of the Towngas Jinan Joint Venture and moved to China to head up a team of 900 staff 1997 Promoted from senior engineer to commercial sales development manager shifting from a purely technical role to a managerial position 1995 Appointed group head of superior quality support organising company-wide quality improvement programmes 1984 Appointed assistant engineer, his first engineering position 1982 Joined Towngas as graduate trainee and was given a broad range of opportunities to acquire new skills and knowledge Taken from Career Times 18 February 2005 Your comments are welcome at [email protected]